England's national team will play four matches during an extended international window running from 21 September through 6 October. The first game is against World Cup winners Spain at Wembley Stadium. Following that, England will travel to the Czech Republic on 29 September and then face Croatia on 3 October. The team will return home to host the Czechs again on 6 October. The four matches are part of England's UEFA Nations League campaign.
Cole Palmer has withdrawn from the squad ahead of these fixtures, according to Yahoo Sports. Palmer, a Chelsea midfielder, pulled out because of a muscle injury. He had only recently returned to Thomas Tuchel's England squad after being left out of the 2026 World Cup squad. Palmer has 14 senior England caps and two goals.
Palmer had made a strong start to the season with Chelsea. He has scored four goals and provided two assists in seven appearances for the club. His latest England appearance came in a friendly against Japan in March.
Morgan Gibbs-White, the Nottingham Forest midfielder, has made six appearances for England in international play. Gibbs-White was part of the England squad for the World Cup qualifier against Latvia in October last year but did not play in that match.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been called up to replace Palmer in the squad. Everton midfielder James Garner has also been added to Tuchel's group. The two players are scheduled to report to St. George's Park with the rest of the squad.
Palmer is one of five players who have withdrawn from England's squad. Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento have also pulled out. The Football Association said all five withdrawals were due to injury issues.
The Three Lions are preparing for a busy stretch of matches with several key fixtures on the horizon.